The LSU Volleyball program is coming off back to back losses against Top 15 programs Arkansas and Tennessee last week. Friday at 8 p.m. CT they will look to get back to their winning ways against the Texas A&M Aggies in the PMAC on the SEC Network. Following that matchup they will head to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
The Tigers are led by outside hitter Jurnee Robinson, who ranks No. 4 in the SEC and No. 32 in the NCAA with 4.04 kills per set and No. 6 in the league with 4.51 points per set. Then there is middle blocker Anita Anwusi who ranks No. 6 in the conference with a .361 hitting percentage behind 115 total kills and leads the team with 39 blocks. Another freshman stand out middle blocker Angie Lee leads the front line with 0.92 blocks per set, with 34 total blocks over the last 11 matches. As of late outside hitter Sanaa Dotson has really been rounding out into midseason form and playing like the pre-season All SEC selection is accustomed to and is second on the team with 2.35 kills per set and adds 14 blocks and five aces, while Right side Jade Demps has registered 2.25 kills per set, contributes 24 blocks, nine aces, and averages 2.24 digs per set. One of my favorite players is setter Maddie Waak who ranks No. 10 in the SEC with 9.44 assists per set and has a team-high 17 aces and 2.38 digs per set this season. Waak in my opinion is the glue to this team as she brings everyone together with the way she sets everyone up.
The Tigers of LSU are (7-8 overall, 2-3 SEC) and while the Aggies of Texas A&M are (12-4, 4-2 SEC). This Aggie team are not ranked like Arkansas and Tennessee were but they are not a team to sleep on. The Aggies are receiving votes in the latest AVCA rankings and are on a two-match winning streak after defeating Ole Miss and Mississippi St. on the road last week. Their most significant win to date being a five-set victory at then No. 4 Florida on Sept. 27. They are leading the SEC with 181 total blocks (No. 12 in the NCAA) and holding opponents to a .162 attack percentage (No. 25 in the NCAA). Offensively, TAMU ranks No. 3 in the SEC with a .271 hitting percentage behind 13.38 kills on 12.72 assists per set, ranking No. 4 in the SEC in each category.
They are led by middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla is the nation’s leader with 1.93 blocks per set and 108 total blocks. She also has a .402 hitting percentage with 88 total kills and nine aces this season. Outside hitter Logan Lednicky paces the offense with 3.60 kills per set (209 total) with a .302 hitting percentage and averages 1.03 blocks per set. Outside hitters Caroline Meuth and Bianna Muoneke follow with 2.98 and 2.82 kills per set and 12 and 11 aces, respectively. The Aggies feature two setters, Nisa Buzlutepe and Margot Manning. Buzlutepe has a team-high 6.55 assists per set, and Manning averages 4.27 assists per set but leads the team with 25 aces (No. 5 in the SEC).
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